The Best Affordable Satellite Comms for Civilians 

I love Lucas with the shooting gear, but I always get excited when Issac has some nerd tech that I have never considered

Issac's tech reviews are always great. Explaining things we didn't even know existed.

The entertainment value was out of this world! Audio crew earned their keep on this one for sure

God this channel is quickly becoming my favourite. The production is high quality

Lately I’ve been into Isaac’s content over other Trex offerings. Fascinating topics, gear and technology.

I got the Garmin inReach Mini 2 for my motorcycle trips. I quickly learned the SOS button can also be used to call for moto vehicle assistance such as tow trucks. It now goes everywhere with me

The production quality of these shows just blows my mind. We need more of these episodes!

I honestly don’t think people understand just how extremely informational this channel really is

as an ex-military satellite controller, i approve of this video. :)

I’m in the first hundred seconds of this video and I already know this is going to cost me hundreds of dollars.

This is a very good video, you never know when you’re going to have an Emergency, cellular phones can do so much.

I sell very expensive GIS/Mapping GNSS/GPS units, and I studied/taught Geology and Geography. We used physical topo maps and a compass, and now digital maps. Listening to Issac talk about satellites and GPS is awesome!

Considering fully the consistent density and power of your content coupled with the respectful, discrete, succinct and helpfully humorous delivery compels me let you know how grateful I am. This channel ranks across the very broad range of my high priority, niche interests among my top 5 and not only because your subject matter is currently relevant to me. It's highly digestible and entertaining, without patronizing me. Thank you for all that you guys do.

I've had in reach for over a decade. I use it when on the Great lakes, when on the ocean, when hunting, and when traveling to out of state family to keep them informed of my position & ETA. It's a great piece of equipment for all these activities, and peace of mind.

A comment to boost the RU-vid algorithm!

I have been using the Inreach explorer +. It is one of my favorite communications devices. I have no complaints and the ability to communicate with other Garmin devices in the field makes it useful when no service is available. Security is an issues, costlyas well. Great information thanks for sharing.

Guys. You guys ROCK IT when it comes to this kind of education and perspective content. I for one, value it and value ALL of you at Trex enormously. We are brothers and we are friends, and we are one (in many ways) and I cherish your efforts. And this is because of the grander vision.

Between Isaac and S2 undrground, I always am looking at new and interesting tech to check out

As a dinosaur who was around on 9/11; RIM bLackberry (two way text pagers) was the only network that did not go down on that day. Cellular and landlines wend down on the East Coast. RIM had connection to the geosynchronous satellites and still worked throughout in Manhattan and Washington DC. Glad that the this possibility is once more available now that RIM is not in the communication. (Monthly subscription required).

The InReach is great. I have mine with me everytime I go innawoods for hiking or MTBing. Saw a recent video on RU-vid where a hiker had to use their InReach to be helivacced out of a remote trail in the PNW after going into afib. From SOS to helicopter arrival was about 90 minutes.

You and your channel are excellent. Thank you for all you provide us!

The SPOT-X is also a great stand-alone handheld satellite communicator. The best feature is the included QWERTY keyboard that looks similar to the old Blackberry phones. You don't need a smartphone to use it. Their service gives the SPOT its own mobile number that can be used for bidirectional SMS messages. I've been carrying the SPOT-X for my off-road motorcycle adventures for several years with great success. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

👍🏻 Thank you Isaac! I USED to come by for the 2A videos… Now I keep returning for the comms talk! You were dead on with Hytera DMR/Analog 2-way gear. I bought a PD-782G2 based on your older videos. I ended up selling all of our family Motorola XPR7550e and MD’s and 2x RD’s. Hytera mastered the “pseudo trunking” and, most importantly, the FPP field programmable features are absolutely the BEST. Thank you again. 73 KD2MKZ

Thank you for sending me down another rabbit hole

The production volume of this video is GREAT!

This needs to be a weekly segment.

Im always impressed with the production level on these kinds of videos

You guys knocked it out of the park, again. Love the topics and the detail given. I love the content and the increase in videos with real world subject matter that civilians can apply to their everyday lives.

Very well done video, both in content and in video production itself. Glad to have stumbled across your channel -Time well-spent!

This was produced and edited very well, great info also!

Back in 1998 I borrowed a Sat phone from Motorola for a discussion at University One of the points I mentioned was the user price for usage alone was $8/minute

This was WONDERFUL exposure to a technology I'd never before REALISTICALLY considered until NOW. Thank YOU!

What an amazing video and so much information I had no idea about, Awesome job Issac and thanks so much for sharing. I been seeing this video pop up on my feed for awhile now and so thankful I finally plunged into it beginning to end!

Awesome video. I fly GA aircraft and recently watched a video about how unreliable the emergency locator built into the aircraft I fly actually is. The video recommended investing in an actual satellite based locater. This video does a great job of explaining how they work and their benefits. I’ll be purchasing one soon.

I haven't come across these types of videos. I just watched the drone video. I'm really liking it I hope you keep making them. ❤

I have one of the large Garmin InReach devices that's saved my ass before. I was on a solo cross country endure motorcycle trip from Mexico to Canada. While I was in Mexico my phone got stolen and I had no normal way to call back home. I was able to text my family from the InReach and let them know what happened and where I was. I was able to navigate back to the US and get a new phone. It took a few days so I only had the Garmin for all navigation and communication. If I didn't have it then, I have no idea what I would have done. It's great for any outdoor activity or trip. The plans can be a little pricey, but it's an amazing backup. Highly recommended.

Isaac I need more knowledge dumps like this. Please! Even more vook reviews my dude.

It’s always a good video when Isaac is on screen.

Thanks Issac. Always glad to see your videos

Issac: “hey, I’m going to show you stuff you’ve never heard of that you’ll now want to spend the next 6 months or more learning about” Well played, sir. Well played.

This intro is great production

Isaac's videos are always one of the kind

For any device that depends upon communication with satellites for its use, especially under crown canopy, it is always best to turn the device on and let it warm up and acquire birds several minutes (20 or so) under open skies first before use, especially before stepping off into canopy. It is more difficult for devices to initially acquire birds under canopy than under clear skies, and it is more difficult to hold them under canopy if they have not been intitially acquired in open skies.

Thanks Isaac. Great content and delivery!

Thank you so much for doing these tech videos! It's great to hear another side of the hobby.

Trex puts out some of the highest quality videos. Love the video and am definitely considering getting a devise.

Interesting to see you guys exploring this tech. It has been/is relatively common among sailors to communicate with family on shore

Deep in the mountains of Colorado my 66i takes about 7 minutes to get a text message out. Slow but has not failed me yet, very nice to have.

Signal Corps....Go! 🏁

I love Issac’s videos. So much good information.

Please keep these videos coming!

Last experience I had with satcoms was that depending on which carrier you went with and where on earth you were, coverage wasn’t guaranteed 24/7. You need a bird above the horizon to get signal. Just because you have a satellite phone doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you can make a call anytime you please. Download an airtime coverage chart for the areas you plan on visiting to see what times you are able to place a call! We had them at work and I tested them on a monthly basis not too far from where you were. I was in the mountains of SW Va. 😊 There we’re times where I would only have coverage for 10 minutes out of an entire hour!

I like a mixture of the two. Solid shooting a watching the competition between the guys entertaining.

These are some of the best type of videos.

The videography here is badass. Nice work

Isaac and his tech is the only reason I subscribe. Thank you sir.

usefull, interesting, intertaining, best production quality as always. Thanks Issac

First time finding your Channel. 1.53 MM subs!? Come on RU-vid algorithm! What took you so long? This channel is GOLD! New Sub 1.53MM +1 ha ha

This was fantastic. Thanks Isaac.

Wife and I were wildland firefighters. She also worked for the USFS as a ranger. Lot of the time we were sent to areas well outside of cell coverage. Outside of a rare land line at a ranger station or fire camp, satcomm via the Garmin inReach's we bought were a lifeline to stay in comms with each other when we were in austere conditions (via text). Starlink mobile seems REALLY promising.

I love all the content lately!

Keep these series coming...

Isaac is a treasure. Thank you.

I have had an inReach since the program inception with Delorm. And have used inReach on 3 sides of the planet with great results!

Isaac is a genuine genius. 👍

Brilliant. Was only familiar with the small garmin . Great info.

Exactly the content I enjoy from you guys. And I kid you not, just watched this, went outside to burn one, and there was a string of new sats. Crazy timing.

Awesome info! We see a lot of this technology in the workfield. Makes sense to utilize it on another level.

That opening was badass

Damn, I tried sending that Garmin an SMS but you have to receive a message from that number to be able to send one. Nice, honestly makes me want one more for my kids on vacation @ Norris lake.

This video was well timed. Our Neighborhood Emergency Response group was discussing what kind of comms to use in the event cell service and landlines went down.

Great info. Satellite tech has always fascinated me.

Brandons a great addition, best into to date imo

Thank you for this info!

I’ve been using my Garmin Inreach for several years now. Fortunately, I’ve never had to use the SOS function, but the ability to text from anywhere is really useful. I also use the GPS function and get weather forecasts.

Thus was amazingly informative ☝️

Great info Isaac. Thanks for sharing

This almost felt like a Bill Nye episode. I love it so much!! Keep it up fellas. More subject matter, more videos!! I’m here for it.

always great content

Production value has increased 👍🏾

Something like the Garmin Montana 700i is really attractive to me because you have a GPS (with turn by turn navigation) as well as your satellite communicator all in one package. You definitely pay for it, but it checks off a lot of boxes.

Thanks for the shoutout!

Wow. Isaac is a giant!

My family has a large Garmin installation - watches, sensors, etc, for all of the outdoor adventures we do. However, we carry a SpotX and not an InReach. My reason for this, is single purpose. The InReach units with GPS begs to have a dead battery when you really need it, because you're likely to use it for nav. We've had good luck with the SpotX, and having a keyboard on the unit itself makes it usable to send SMS when needed.

I have the Garmin InReach Explorer Plus and I love it. Do I use it? Only to test and probably less often than once a year. Why have it and pay $50 a month (more or less)? Simple. I don’t ever want to be away, out of touch and unable to get help, especially being a married man. So it’s an insurance policy of sorts for me. I use the phone app primarily but have used the device just by itself. Its rugged, gets the job done, and gives me that sense of comfort. I also keep it in a small faraday bag in case of a solar flare event (like the Carrington one 100 years + ago) or the occasional nuclear attack. Again, love it, well made and gives me peace of mind.

I love these tech reviews, so helpful. What are your thoughts for ATAK for civi use described?

I'm a citizen not a civilian

Isaac doesn’t MISS, absolute stud

I get a 50% discount via my employer, any of the hand helds with maps and inreach tech would be a fantastic option for a grid down scenario. Might just have to look at picking one up.

Great video, thanks.

I didn't expect this to come.. i just simply think that all the content they has was only in practical shooting and gears tuturials only...i mean this is a good idea to feature.❤

I've been subscribing to the Forward Observer mentality regarding the collapse of the US not being a full curtain drop, but much more akin to south america and other latin areas. A partial collapse, where politicians create laws and gangs enforce them. We're practically there now with it being a police state. As such, tools like this can be extremely valuable where conventional forms of comms have the plug pulled, but if its a state level scenario, this still has issues for the 9-5 guerrilla. I'd appreciate a better understanding of Trex's thoughts on our future state and how they would be leveraging this tech and toolset.

I have been using a Spot X as a back up satellite communicator that can be used as a stand alone unit. It can be paired with a cellphone for easier typing.

As a pilot the garmin inreach is a great level of redundancy for when the cellphone satelite services are not vaible or when iphone dies etc.

Cool. Last time I checked up on this stuff, it was Inmarsat for brief voice conversations while deployed, and then we would use the pots switchboard for an outside line. How fast times change…

You guys are amazing. Also love ur bodcast ;)

I can’t believe that people don’t click on these videos! S tier information here!!!

Excellent. Thanks.

I'd be interested to learn how you would integrate the ATAK civ/ open source version with this and starlink. You did a video on it a few years ago but I have to imagine there is a better solution to comms and coordination available or soon to be available.

Thank you!